2 Kings 4:1-44

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 4:1-7

Elisha's miracles were for use, not for show; this recorded here was an act of real charity. Such also were the miracles of Christ, not only great wonders, but great favours to those for whom they were wrought. God magnifies his goodness with his power. I. Elisha readily receives a poor widow's complaint. She was a prophet's widow; to whom therefore should she apply, but to him that was a father to the sons of the prophets, and concerned himself in the welfare of their families? It seems, the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 4:8-17

The giving of a son to such as were old, and had been long childless, was an ancient instance of the divine power and favour, in the case of Abraham, and Isaac, and Manoah, and Elkanah; we find it here among the wonders wrought by Elisha. This was wrought in recompence for the kind entertainment which a good woman gave him, as the promise of a son was given to Abraham when he entertained angels. Observe here, I. The kindness of the Shunammite woman to Elisha. Things are bad enough in Israel,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 4:18-37

We may well suppose that, after the birth of this son, the prophet was doubly welcome to the good Shunammite. He had thought himself indebted to her, but henceforth, as long as she lives, she will think herself in his debt, and that she can never do too much for him. We may also suppose that the child was very dear to the prophet, as the son of his prayers, and very dear to the parents, as the son of their old age. But here is, I. The sudden death of the child, though so much a darling. He was... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 4:38-44

We have here Elisha in his place, in his element, among the sons of the prophets, teaching them, and, as a father, providing for them; and happy it was for them that they had one over them who naturally cared for their state, under whom they were well fed and well taught. There was a dearth in the land, for the wickedness of those that dwelt therein, the same that we read of, 2 Kgs. 8:1. It continued seven years, just as long again as that in Elijah's time. A famine of bread there was, but not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 4:1

Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha ,.... This, according to the Targum, was the wife of Obadiah, who had hid the prophets by fifty in a cave in the times of Ahab; and so Josephus F17 Antiqu. l. 9. c. 4. sect. 2. , and it is the commonly received notion of the Jewish writers; though it does not appear that he was a prophet, or the son of a prophet, but the governor or steward of Ahab's house; she was more likely to be the wife of a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 4:2

And Elisha said unto her, what shall I do for thee ?.... Or can I do, being poor himself, and unable to relieve her out of his substance, and not knowing where to get anything for her; and so what could she expect from him? signifying, that he pitied her case, but all that he could do was to give her his best advice, and pray for her: tell me what thou hast in thy house ? that she could part with and dispose of, in order to pay her debt; and satisfy her creditor: and she said, thine... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 4:3

Then he said, go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours ,.... For he perceived that she had none: even empty vessels ; which they might more readily lend her: borrow not a few ; but as many as she could get; the prophet, under a divine impulse, was directed to say this to her, foreseeing, by a spirit of prophecy, that a large quantity of oil would be given her. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 4:4

And when thou art come in ,.... Into her house: thou shall shut the door upon thee, and upon thy sons ; that they might be alone in the house while the miracle was working; that they might not be interrupted in what they were to do, by the creditor coming in upon them, or by neighbours, who would be for getting the oil from them in the vessels they had lent them: and that the miracle might appear the plainer, no oil being brought into the house by any: and shalt pour out into all... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 4:5

So she went from him ,.... And did as he advised her, borrowed many empty vessels of her neighbours, having faith in what the prophet had said to her: and shut the door upon her, and upon her sons ; and then went to work as she was directed, with her sons: who brought the vessels to her ; the empty ones she had borrowed: and she poured out; the oil out of her pot into them. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 4:6

And it came to pass when the vessels were full ,.... For the oil being miraculously increased as it was poured forth, there was enough to fill all the vessels; Ben Gersom and Abarbinel say, that when the pot was emptied, all the air that entered it was turned into oil: that she said to her son, bring me yet a vessel ; as she had two sons, one it is probable was employed in setting aside the full vessels, as she poured into them, and the other in bringing to her the empty vessels, and to... read more

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